The Kentwood High School boys basketball team hopes its sixth-place state finish last year will help propel them further into the playoffs this year.
“Last year’s team created that winning expectation or culture,” coach Blake Solomon said. “We have three or four guys that played minutes at state last year and have been able to be leaders and set the tone for what we’ve done this year.”
The Conquerors took fourth place in the West Central District 4A tournament last weekend. They will face Everett’s Cascade High School, which won the Northwest District 1 title, in a regional playoff game at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Everett Community College. The winner advances to the eight-team state tournament March 3-5 at the Tacoma Dome.
“We have 12 guys that are ready to play basketball,” senior forward Davonte’ Sanchez said. “I’m feeling good, just ready to play basketball this Saturday and to win. We are trying to make it to March 5 and play for a state title.”
Kentwood expects a tough game against Cascade.
“Our guys know that we’ve got to go in to a hostile environment, because they pack the fans pretty well out there,” Solomon said.
But the team is prepared for the challenge ahead.
“Our district is always one of the toughest districts in the state, so we feel we are battle tested to play anybody despite what their records are,” Solomon said. “We’ll be confident. We’ll be ready.”
Kentwood lost two games in the district tournament, 58-48 against Federal Way in the semifinals on Feb. 17, and 67-63 to Bellarmine in Saturday’s seeding game.
The team’s spirits were high at Monday’s practice as players got back to work.
“The mindset all year has been on getting back to the Tacoma Dome,” Solomon said. “We are pretty excited to be here but know that we’ve got a lot of work left to do.”
Kentwood has won two state titles, the first in 2004 and again in 2010. Solomon played on the 2004 team.
The Conquerors are young, with three seniors, seven juniors and two sophomores, which bodes well for next year.
But the focus remains on this season.
“We aren’t looking past it because this group is fully capable of making a run this year,” Solomon said. “If we raise the expectation level for this year, they get even more experience and they are ready to go for next year.”
Junior guard Rayvaughn Bolton said the team’s camaraderie has contributed to its success.
“We are just trying to get better everyday, he said. “Trying to get to the next level, trying to get better as a team.”
Sanchez said the team has what it takes to do well.
“It’s all about us,” he said. “It’s all about heart.”
Elsewhere
The Kentridge boys take on Central Valley in a state regional playoff at 8 p.m. Saturday at University High School in Spokane Valley. The Chargers took sixth place in the district tournament, with a 62-54 loss to Timberline.
The Kentlake girls took second place in the West Central District tournament with a 75-43 loss to Todd Beamer last Saturday. The Falcons face Kamiak in a regional game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Rogers High School in Puyallup.
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